Identifying Seasonal Groundwater Recharge Using Environmental Stable Isotopes

Abstract

In this study, the stable isotope values of oxygen and hydrogen were used to identify the seasonal contribution ratios of precipitation to groundwater recharge in the Hualien River basin of eastern Taiwan. The differences and correlations of isotopes in various water bodies were examined to evaluate the groundwater recharge sources for the Hualian River basin and the interrelations between groundwater and surface water. Proportions of recharge sources were calculated based on the results of the mass balance analysis of the isotope composition of hydrogen and oxygen in the basin. Mountain river water accounted for 83% and plain rainfall accounted for 17% of the groundwater recharge in the Huanlian River basin. Using the mean d-values, a comparison of d-values of precipitation and groundwater indicates the groundwater consists of 75.5% wet seasonal sources and 24.5% dry seasonal sources, representing a distinct seasonal variation of groundwater recharge in the study area. Comparisons between hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in rainwater showed that differences in the amount of rainfall resulted in depleted oxygen and hydrogen isotopes for precipitation in wet seasons as compared to dry seasons. The river water contained more depleted hydrogen and oxygen isotopes than was the case for precipitation, implying that the river water mainly came from the upstream catchment. In addition, the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the groundwater slightly deviated from the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic meteoric water line in Huanlian. Therefore, the

A multi-tracer approach for assessing the origin, apparent age and recharge mechanism of shallow groundwater in the Lake Nyos catchment, Northwest, Cameroon

“…The first stage is related to input from the Southwest monsoon, resulting in slightly depleted d 18 O values, while the second one takes place after the peak of monsoon rains (July), yielding much more depleted d 18 O values. Using mass balance analysis for oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions, the groundwater recharge percentages of every recharge source can be evaluated (Yeh et al, 2014). Mixing between two distinct recharge sources can be quantified by a simple linear algebraic equation:…”

Identifying Groundwater Recharge Sites through Environmental Stable Isotopes in an Alluvial Aquifer

“…This relation defines the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL), and was obtained by using a linear regression method derived from the isotopic analysis of precipitation, snow water, and river water from all over the world; most of the precipitation in the world follows this relationship [7]. The slope and the intercept of this equation are useful in understanding the systematic isotopic fractionation controlled by the hydrologic cycle [8].…”

Environmental Tracers

“…Such SGD and offshore groundwater reserves have recently been highlighted as a global phenomenon potentially to be exploited [13]. Elsewhere, other authors [14] have used dissolved uranium and 234 U/ 238 U activity ratios and natural Uranium-and Thorium-series radiogenic nuclides, alongside dissolved noble gases (including 4 He, the stable by-product of U-and Th-series radioactive decay) to attest to the "fossil" water (palaeowater) status of groundwaters in the regional Continental Intercalaire aquifer of Algeria and Tunsia. Their abstraction is therefore akin to mining this groundwater resource.…”

“…Three articles [3][4][5] look at the start of the hydrological cycle, at the origin of rainfall and its selection in groundwater recharge using characteristic, naturally-occurring δ 2 H and δ…”

“…O, is used in case studies by Lambs et al [3] in France and Yeh et al [4] in Taiwan, to identify the predominance of different air masses contributing to rainfall patterns seasonally and the groundwater recharge at the regional/catchment scale. Buenning et al [5] model specifically the δ…”